By: Ismael AbduSalaam
TV legend and social critic Bill Cosby has announced a new album aimed at bringing socially conscious lyrics to the forefront of Hip-Hop.
The new project is titled “Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency,” and will be available directly though Cosby’s social media network site www.billcosby.com.
Cosby, a veteran of several comedy and music albums, serves as the executive producer. Although he does no actual rapping, he is responsible for conceiving all the narrative concepts for each track.
When describing the music, Bill Cosby explained it as a declaration of a new direction rather than an indictment of the current Hip-Hop scene.
"I don't like referring to the music as clean,” Cosby said in a statement. “What I like is what you're not going to do. You're not going to curse. You're not going to put women down. You're not going to put the glory of the gun somewhere. And you're not going to put a whole lot of violence up front like that's the thing that will cleanse you and make you feel better."
The production is handled by William “Spaceman” Patterson (Miles Davis, LL Cool J, Eric Clapton, Alicia Keys) and Ced-Gee, co-founder of the seminal Hip-Hip collective the Ultramagnetic MCs.
The album will mix elements of Hip-Hop, R&B, jazz, pop, rock, and funk. Song titles include “Where’s the Parade,” honoring black women, “Dad Behind the Glass,” about absent fathers, and “Get on Your Job,” detailing self-responsibility.
Bill Cosby and the Cosnarati Band will premier on October 19 via a virtual town hall meeting in New York City. The presentation is courtesy of Ustream and commences at 7PM. Additionally, the concert will be available on www.billcosby.com and www.facebook.com/billcosby.
At press time, Bill Cosby’s “The Cosnarati: State of Emergency” is set to have a physical and digital release on November 24.